Portable canopy and beach shelter construction



E. H. FISHER March 31, 1936.

PORTABLE CANOPY AND BEACH SHELTER CONSTRUCTION Filed July 10, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS E. H. FISHER March 31, 1936.

PORTABLE CANOPY AND BEAK IH SHELTER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed July 10, 1935 INVENTOR fbn Aep Hal /76 ATTORNEYS E. H. FISHER March 31, 1936.

PORTABLE CANOPY AND BEACH SHELTER CONSTRUCTION Filed July 10, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR [mm/e0 A. Has 5e ATTORN EY Patented Mar. 31, 1936 PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE CANOPY AND BEACH SHELTER- CONSTRUCTION Edward H. Fisher, New York, N. Y., assignor of one-half to John A.

Lakes, N. J.

Tompkins, Mountain Application July 10, 1935, Serial No. 30,625

15 Claims.

This invention relates to sheltering means and refers more particularly to portable covers for beach, deck or lawn activities, collapsible tents, folding canopies and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable canopy or shelter frame which is light in weight, easy to carry, and which may be set up on beaches, lawns, decks, roofs and so forth, to provide a convenient shelter and also attached to chairs, benches and so forth.

Another object is to provide a collapsible and portable canopy which, in spite of its light weight, may be set up on beaches, playgrounds, pent houses, lawns, decks, and the like, to form a substantially reliable shelter which can withstand winds and storms without losing its shape and without breaking. I

A further object is to provide a folding canopy which affords complete seclusion and privacy to persons using the same and which may be adapted to serve as tents for army purposes, parties of travelers and the like and which may be utilized to form a portable solarium.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a portable canopy which can be conveniently carried by a single person in the folded state, and which is provided with a means permitting the canopy to be firmly set up on'the lawn or beach, and to provide a permanent shelter for persons using the same and/ or to provide shade.

The above and other objects of the present invention may be realized through the provision of a canopy comprising a plurality of elongated U-shaped frame members capable of being compactly collapsed together, when the canopy is folded, the adjacent ends of said U-shaped members being hingedly interconnected. Pegs which may be inserted into the ground or beach are attached to these hinges.

A covering made of a textile or fabricated material interconnects the various U-shaped membars.

The floor and/or cover of the canopy is formed by a mat attached to one terminal U-shaped frame member and this mat is provided with pockets adapted to be filled with sand, earth or other materials for the purpose of stabilizing the entire structure and permitting it to resist wind and distorting influences.

In accordance with the present invention. the frame of the canopy may be formed by rods con.- sisting of rattan or the like, which may be axially reenforced, if desired, by insertion of a wire therethrough.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

Figure l is a perspective view of the set up canopy constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the hinge construction interconnecting the frame elements of the canopy upon the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the hinge in side elevation.

Figure 4 illustrates another way of using the canopy shown in Figure 1. I

Figure 5 shows the canopy after the pegs have been inserted in the ground and before its cover member has been opened.

Figure 6 shows in side section upon the line 6-6 of Figure 1, one of the sand pillows of the canopy.

Figure 7 illustrates the method of collapsing the canopy.

Figure 8 shows the canopy in its portable collapsed condition.

Figure 9 illustrates a double canopy which may be used as a tent.

Figure 10 illustrates the application of the shade or canopy of the present invention to a table.

Figure 11 illustrates a side view of the construction of Figure 10.

Figure 12 illustrates a top perspective view upon an enlarged scale of one of the ground engagement elements, as shown in Fig. 10.

Figure l3 is a diagrammatic illustration showing how the arrangement of Fig. 10 may be adjustably positioned for various purposes.

The shelter or canopy shown in Figures 1 to 8 of the drawings comprises a number of flexible, laterally extended U-shaped frame elements 20, 2f, 22, 23 and 24. Each of these elements may be about six feet in length, although obviously, frame elements of any other suitable dimension may be employed.

Each of the frame elements is preferably made of light weight bamboo or rattan rods, although any other suitable material may be conveniently used for the same purpose.

As shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the U-shaped elements 20 to 24 are collapsed together when the sheltering device is folded. The adjacent ends of the frame elements 20 to 24, are interconnected by two hinge constructions, 25 and 26, which at the same time are used as carriers for the tacks 21 and 28, which are inserted into the ground or beach while the canopy is being used.

The hinge 26 is illustrated on a larger scale in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. As shown in these figures one end of the lower frame element 24 is situated within a sleeve 23 and is held firmly within this sleeve by a pin 33, or by any other similar means.

The sleeve 29 is firmly connected with a curved extension 3!, from the end of the sleeve 29. The extension lever 3| terminates in a ring or eye 32a which is pivotally mounted upon the bolt 32.

The bolt 32 is preferably fixed to the extension 33 of the sleeve 34, which sleeve 34 fits upon one end 35 of the ground engagement element or peg 23. The wing nut 36 may be tightened on the threaded shank 31 of the bolt to clamp the members together in any desired position of the U-members 20 to 24, as shown in Figure 1, or it may be loosened to permit adjustment or collapse of the device, as shown in Figure 5.

The cloth 33 covering the fiexible U-members 20 to 24 may be made of silk, rubberized fabric, canvas, or other suitable lightweight fabric materials and is preferably provided with a. plurality of pockets, as indicated at 33 in Figure 2, which will assure close connection between the fabric 33 and said U-members 20 to 24 and the tie strings 33a connected to the pin 30.

The cover and ground cloth 40 may be sewed at 4i to the end U-member 24, or may be provided with buckles and straps 42, see Figures 1 and 4, for this same purpose.

The cover element 40 may be utilized as indicated in Figure 1 for a ground cover, or it may be used as in Figure 4 to close one end of the canopy.

When the device is collapsed, as shown in Figure 7, the cover element 40 also serves as a wrapper for the inturned rattan or bamboo members which are of sufficient flexibility to be folded together, as indicated at 45, and permit the lower portion 44 of the cover 40 to be wrapped around the folded members 20 to 25, as indicated in Figure 8, with the straps 45 cooperating with the buckles 46, to form a compact package which may be conveniently carried from place to place, as to and from the beach or other place where the canopy is to be set up.

As illustrated best in Figures 1, 5 and 6 at each side of the cover 40 is positioned the pocket 43, which is adapted to be filled with sand, as indicated at 49, through the opening 50, equipped with the slide fasteners 50. These pockets when filled with sand serve to give sufiicient weight to the device to stabilize it and prevent it from being blown away and also to serve as a pillow for the head of the user.

As shown in Figure 6 the lower part of the pocket is provided with self opening flaps 5!, so that as soon as the device is lifted from the ground prior to being collapsed as indicated in Figure '7, the sand will empty itself out of the pockets 49.

It is therefore readily apparent that the device may be utilized in open condition, as indicated in Figure 1, with the cover 43 acting as a ground shield and with the pockets 43 filled wit-h sand acting as stabilizers and pillows, or the device may be closed from the exterior by the cover 40 as indicated in Figure 4.

The arrangement as'shown in Figure 1 would be particularly valuable in case of sea-bathing or beach or lawn activities, whereas the arrangement shown in Figure 4 would be particularly desirable where it is necessary to change one's clothing or undress.

The sand in the pockets 43 may be most readily inserted by opening the slide fasteners 53 and these pockets will automatically dump themselves when the device is lifted from the ground, as shown in Fig. 6. The fiexibility of the U-members 20 to 24 is such that when these members are folded together and the cover 40 is wrapped around them, the cover and compact package of Figure 8 may be readily transported from place to place.

Adjustment of the device may be readily obtained by loosening the wing nut 36, adjusting or collapsing the U-members or then tightening it.

It is therefore apparent that the applicant has provided a convenient decorative portable canopy shelter frame of light weight and of inexpensive construction, which may withstand con siderable buffeting by the wind without collapsing or being blown away, which may be used as an open shelter for bathing or beach activities, or as a closed shelter for disrobing, dressing or undressing or like operations.

In Figure 9 is shown an alternative arrangement in which two of the devices 53 of Figure 1 are placed face to face, and attached to the ground by the pegs 5Ia, the space between the device being closed by a fiap 52 connected by snap fasteners or straps and buckles or other means, to the edge of the frame.

If desired, the space 54 between the structure should be such as to permit the ingress and egress of the user without disturbing the enclosing structure.

It is thus shown in Figure 8, that a completely closed tent construction for camping may be had by use of two of the canopies or one elongated canopy with one hinge construction at each side.

As shown in Figure 10 the canopy device 56 may be provided with a series of U-members 66, 51, 53. 59 and 60. each of the different dimension, whereby a flat elongated umbrella construction will be obtained. The hinge 6| may be of the same construction shown in Figures 2 and 3, but the mounting element 33 of the hinged structure is preferably designed to receive a pole 62.

The pole 62 by means of the sleeve extension 64 may receive another pole extension 65, to the lower end of which is connected the ground engagement element 66.

The ground engagement element 66 has the hollow shank 61 and the ground engaging point 63. The hollow shank 61 is adapted to receive the lower end of the pole 65. The wings 63 which are rigidly connected to the top of the sleeve element 61 afford a convenient foot contact element by which the weight of a person may be applied to force the device in the ground as indicated in Figure 10.

The table 10, as indicated at H, may be com veniently positioned under the canopy and utilized at beach or lawn parties for the serving of food or for other diversions and recreations.

As indicated by the dotted lines at H the angle of the device may be changed at the hinge 6|,

In Figure 11 it is indicated how the device of Figure 10 may be readily collapsed so as to form a convenient package for storage or transportation purposes.

It is apparent that the device of Figure 10 may have side supports 62 or 65 of varying number or height so that such device may be positioned at various elevations from the ground.

Moreover, as indicated in Figure 13, the elements of Figure 12, may 'be so arranged as to permit the device to be inserted in the ground with the side members 12 at varying angles, as to afford a convenient shade for a chair, as indicated at 13.

Instead of flexible rods or strips of rattan, which are preferred, it is also possible to use rods or strips of bamboo, willow Or other woody or fibrous materials, for example, strips such as reeds may also be employed if desired. These materials may be reinforced by wires.

As the covering material for the U-frame members, it is possible to utilize special fabricsor covering mate-rials which will permit ventilation or permit the ingress of ultra violet light or of other light to have a suitable health giving effect upon the body of the user.

For example, certain special fabrics of synthetic cellulose fibers which will permit passage of certain types of light rays may be employed.

It is also possible to use netting, whether of fabric or other materials to cover the U-members to permit further ventilation or different conditions of the illumination within the canopy when it is set up.

Pliable glasses may also be employed as covering materials. If desired, these various materials may be used interchangeably by removing one from the U-members and by applying another,.

in which case, the fabric covering 38 may be made readily removable-by detachable connections such as snap fasteners, buttons, buckles or otherwise.

In respect to the pillows II, where the ballast effect is not so important, they may be filled with straw or grass to give a convertible head rest.

-It is also possible to insert rubber bags which may be inflated to give a convertible head rest.

It is obvious that other types of fasteners than slide fasteners may be utilized at the position 50, and the automatic opening in Figure 6 may also be provided with fastening means such as buttons, buckles, straps, slide fasteners and so forth.

Where is is desirable to further stabilize the extended canopy, as shown in Figures 1 and 9, against the eifect of the wind, an additional number of pegs may be connected to the U- member 24, by pivotal connections or otherwise, to enable them to be readily inserted in the ground when the canopy is set up.

Where the canopy, such as shown in Figures 1 and 9, is to be utilized on decks or places where pegs cannot be readily attached, other types of supports and connections may be employed such as clamps, flanged stands, and so forth.

Although the device shown may be made in a large variety of sizes, for commercial production it has been found best to make them in a senior size 42" x 42" x 72" and a junior 22" x 22" x 36.- These sizes may be widely varied. If it is desired to make a very large canopy, the size may be '7' x 7' x 14' in which case the canopy would be of suflicient size to receive hanging lanterns and might be utilized for lawn parties and so forth;

Although, as stated above. a large variety of different covering means might be utilized where the device is'to be utilized "in a solarium, it has been found most convenient to cover it with a treated balloon silk material, Endurette", or other similar fabrics.

With such a covering material, the ultra violet size rays may penetrate and the infra-red rays will be held up.

The mat 40, if desired, may also be extended horizontally from the front of the canopy, such as shown in Figures 1 and 4 by placing the U- element 20 next to the ground so as to form sort of an awning or cover for the front of the canopy when set up.

Any number of canopies or shelters, such as shown in Figures 1 and 4 may be arranged in a garden or on a deck to give a desired effect.

It will be noted that the extension elements 3i are successively offset so that they may be most conveniently collapsed together to enable the device to be folded into the position shown in Figures 7 and 8.

In collapsing the canopy, as shown in Figures 5, '7 and 8, it will be noted that the legs of the U-elements 20 to 24. instead of being one in back of the other, are so positioned with respect to the extensions 3|, thatthey will be one alongside of the other whereby it will be much easier to bend the entire unit as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

In addition, as shown in Figures '7 and 8, it will be n ted that the base of the U-members 2D, to 24. will become convex which not only will give a muchstronger package but will give a spring effect to the package as shown in Figure 8.

When the device is extended, as indicated in Figures 1 and 4, the unbend ng of the legs of the U-elements 20 to 24 will remove the convexity from the base of the Us as shown in Figure 7 and will result in the shelter as shown in Figures i and 4.

It isaiso to be understood that the various constructions and method of manufacturing the above described device are purely illustrative and not for the purpose of limiting the invention, and that many alterations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention and it is intended to include in the present invention everything that is within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A collapsible canopy or tent device comprising a plurality of one piece flexible fibrous U- frame members hingedly connected together at the ends of the legs of said U-frame members, a

fabric covering therefor also attached to said members and a cover member adapted to serve also as an end cover or a ground cover member, said U-frame members being of a light weight material and being'substantially flexible so that the legs thereof may be inturned to substantial parallelism with the bases thereof, whereby the opposite legs of the U-members may be placed together and wrapped as a compact package by said cover member.

2. A collapsible canopy or tent device comprising a plurality of one piece flexible fibrous U- frame members hingedly connect-ed together at the ends of the legs of said U-frame members, a fabric covering therefor attached to sa d members and a covermember adapted to serve as an end cover or a ground cover member, said cover member being provided with pockets to be filled with sand to anchor the device, said U-frame members being of alight weight material and being substantially flexible so that the legs thereof may be inturned to substantial parallelism with the bases thereof, whereby the opposite legs of the U-members may be placed together and wrapped as a compact package by said cover member.

3. A collapsible canopy or tent device comprising a plurality of one piece flexible fibrous U- frame members hingedly connected together at the ends of the legs of said U-frame members, a fabric covering therefor attached to said members and a cover member adapted to serve as an end cover or a ground cover member, said cover member being provided with anchoring pockets at the ends thereof adjacent said hinged connections, said pockets being provided with openings at their upper sides provided with fasteners by which they may be fllled with sand and with automatically dumping openings at their lower sides, said U- frame members being of a light weight material and being substantially flexible so that the legs thereof may be inturned to substantial parallelism with the bases thereof, whereby the opposite legs of the U-members may be placed together and wrapped as a compact package by said cover member.

4. A collapsible canopy or tent device comprising a plurality of one piece flexible flbrous U- frame members hingedly connected together at the ends of the legs of said U-frame members, a fabric covering therefor attached to said members and a cover member adapted to serve as an end cover or a ground cover member, said hinge connection also carrying pins enabling the device to be fixed to the ground, said U-frame members being of a light weight material and being substantially flexible so that the legs thereof may be inturned to substantial parallelism with the bases thereof, whereby the opposite legs of the U -members may be placed together and wrapped as a compact package by said cover member.

5. A collapsible canopy or tent device comprising a plurality of one piece flexible fibrous U- frame members hingedly connected together at the ends of the legs of said U-frame members, a fabric covering therefor attached to said members and a cover member adapted to serve as an end cover or a ground cover member, said frame members when extended forming a quarter cylindrical enclosure and when collapsed being sufficiently flexible to enable the legs to be inturned and wrapped in the cover member, the length of the base of said frame members being substantially shortened when said legs are inturned and wrapped in said cover member.

6. A collapsible and readily set-up canopy and shade construction comprising a plurality of U- shaped flexible rattan elements, eye elements attached to the ends of the legs of the U-elements, a pivot mounting element extending through said eye elements and means to clamp said eye elements in any adjusted position about said pivot element, the base of each of the U-elements being arched and at all times retaining said arch so as to prevent sagging of the roof of the canopy when set up.

'7. A collapsible and readily set-up canopy and shade construction comprising a plurality of U- shaped flexible rattan elements, eye elements attached to the ends of the legs of the U-elements, a pivot mounting element extending through said eye elements and means to clamp said eye elements in any adjusted position about said -pivot element, the end U-element carrying a covering element adapted for wrapping and retaining a predetermined arch in the U-shaped elements when collapsed, and for use as a ground or cover element when the elements are extended, said eye elements being successively mounted on the pivot element and opposlngly and progressively laterally arched to a perpendicular plane through said pivot element so as to bring the legs of said U-members when collapsed into lateral alignment.

8. A collapsible and readily set-up canopy and shade construction comprising a plurality of U- shaped flexible rattan elements, eye elements attached to the ends of the legs of the U-elements, a pivot mounting element extending through said elements and means to clamp said eye elements in any adjusted position about said pivot element, and automatically dumping sand ballast means for stabilizing said canopy and shade construction against the wind when set up, the legs of said U-elements being sufllciently flexible as to enable them to be bent inwardly to substantial parallelism to the bases of said Us without breakage whereby a most compact package may be formed.

9. A collapsible and readily set-up canopy and shade construction comprising a plurality of U- shaped flexible rattan elements, eye elements attached to the ends of the legs of the U-ele ments, a pivot mounting element extending through said eye elements and means to clamp said eye elements in any adjusted position about said pivot element, said U-elements being of variable depth and forming a relatively flat canopy when they are extended, the legs of said U-elements being sufficiently flexible as to enable them to be bent inwardly to substantial parallelism to the bases of said Us without breakage whereby a most compact package may be formed.

10. A collapsible and readily set-up canopy and shade construction comprising a plurality of U-shaped flexible rattan elements, eye elements attached to the ends of the legs of the U-elements, a pivot mounting element extending through said eye elements and means to clamp said eye elements in any adjusted position about said pivot element, said eye elements being provided with a pivot mount, which pivot mount receives said clamping means at one sde of said eye elements and receives a peg to be inserted into the ground at the other side of said eye elements.

11. A stabilizer for a portable tent construction comprising a ground cover element with pockets to be filled with sand or earth, sat'd pockets having a filling opening at one side and an automatic dumping opening at the other side.

12. A stabilizer for a portable tent construction comprising a ground cover element with pockets to be filled with granular solid matter, said pockets having a filling opening at one side provided with a fastener and an automatically dumping opening.

13. In a tent construction, a plurality of extensible and collapsible one piece U-frame members of rattan, the legs of which, when the device is collapsed, may be flexed toward the base of the U-members and wrapped in a compact package.

14. In a hinge construction, a plurality of one piece U-shaped flexible rattan members, the legs of which may be flexed inwardly without breakage to substantial parallelism with the bases and connection means to cause said members to lie side by side when collapsed together in which position they are readily bendable, said connecting means consisting of a plurality of eye elements provided with hollow shanks to receive the ends of the legs of said U-shaped members, said eye elements being provided with a pivot conmotion to each other, and said eye elements being opposingly and progressively laterally arched into a plane perpendicular to the pivot so as to bring said legs in side by side position when collapsed. v p i 15. A collapsible and readily set-up canopy and shade construction comprising a plurality;

of U-shaped flexible rattan elements, eye elements attached to the ends ot-ithe legs of them elements, a pivot mounting "element extending 1 through saidyeye elements and means to clamp said eye elements in any adiustedposition about ting up the device and which bow becomes more convex and substantially takes up the flexing 01 the legs when the canopy is completely collapsed and wrapped.

, 'ing a substantially convex bow in the bases there- 3 or which bow flattens when the legs are moved 'away'trom each other into parallelism for set- 

